Gm Strike Hasn't Hit Big Here . . . Yet

CRUISE CONTROL

Battles being waged on picket lines at General Motors factories in Michigan aren't keeping local customers off the road yet.

Since June, a strike by union workers at two parts plants in Flint, Mich., has idled several other factories nationwide and caused shortages in parts and new vehicles at many dealerships.

That's not the case around here, however -- at least not yet.

Dave Dodge, general sales manager at Jack's Chevrolet Oldsmobile Pontiac in Colchester, said certain parts have been tougher than usual to acquire, but that the strike hasn't hurt the dealership's inventory or repair business.

``We're not a big dealer, but we still have a good inventory for the volume that we do,'' he said. ``The only thing we fear is that people would think we don't have any inventory, but we're still out here ready for business.''

But if the strike continues into late August or September, the crunch could be on, he said. So they're hoping that a quick, fair settlement comes soon.

Local drivers who lease GM vehicles through its financing arm will be getting a bit of a break, however.

For leases expiring during the strikes, General Motors Acceptance Corp. is extending the leases for up to six months at the same monthly payment rate. The goal is to keep customers from going to competitors before the labor problems are smoothed out.

Connecticut is not an auto industry powerhouse, so the strike generally hasn't affected many jobs or spinoff businesses here. But United Auto Workers, the union representing the strikers, has members in Connecticut who are keeping an eye on the developments in Michigan.

Some plants in Bristol and Plainville are looking at layoffs if the market for their bearings and other parts keeps drying up, said Phil Wheeler, director of UAW Region 9A, which is headquartered in Farmington.

``There's not a lot of parts manufacturing anymore in Connecticut, but there's still some, and that could cause a ripple effect,'' Wheeler said.

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Here are a few other transportation-related items gleaned over the past few weeks from various sources, including the Associated Press and Connecticut's departments of motor vehicles and transportation:

* Danielson Airport in Killingly will close for 90 days beginning Aug. 3, giving the state enough time to have contractors repave a runway and taxiway. Windham Airport will be the alternate airport for pilots while Danielson Airport is closed.

* A public hearing has been set for Thursday, Aug. 27, to discuss various construction projects that are being considered to improve Groton-New London Airport for users, state transportation officials say. The focus will be on the environmental affects.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Groton Senior Center on Route 117. For info, call (860) 594-2136.

* The pony car was introduced in April 1964 with a ticket price of $2,368 for the two-door sedan, and $2,614 for the top-of-the-line convertible. Today, a fully loaded 1998 Mustang convertible runs about $23,000.